The purpose of The Yarn is to act as a chronicle of my entrepreneurial journey as a freelance copywriter and to explore the place where storytelling, language, human connection, and business intersect. It’s my guiding value as a writer and as an entrepreneur that stories and compassionate gestures have more power than any marketing gimmick. When we stop treating customers and readers like faceless consumers and start appealing to them as individuals, not only do we win their business and loyalty, we also make lasting human connections that go beyond business transactions.

Do you have a story to tell?

If it sounds like we might be kindred spirits, then I’d love to hear your ideas for my blog.

I’m currently seeking personal narratives of entrepreneurs who have undergone a personal transformation that inspired them to go out on their own, switch careers, or change the focus of their business.

These featured posts will be part of a series called "Tapestry." For reference to the candid and confessional voice I’d like to see in a Tapestry post, please take a moment to read the post that inspired this series: How Sorrow Set Me Free.

Compensation

While I’m not currently compensating guest contributors with cash, I will make sure that you get a bio and link with your post. In addition to being published on my website, your guest post will be:

  • Shared throughout its publication week on LinkedIn Pulse, Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter
  • Submitted to a network of blog directories such as BoingBoing and NetworkedBlogs
  • Advertised via Outbrain content promotion
  • E-mailed to my subscribers in a curated “care-package.”

All in all, you can expect around 10,000 impressions from publishing your post on my site.

Blog post content

  • Content must be guest blogger’s own original work and not published anywhere else online.
  •  The final draft should be between 500– 1,200 words.
  •   Plagiarism is not permitted. When quoting others, please cite your sources accordingly.
  • Once your post has been published on my site, it is under my copyright and you may not publish the post anywhere else online (this is to preserve the SEO of the blog post as unique content). However, you will retain authorship rights and are welcome to post links referring readers to it.
  • If, after the process of writing your post, you think your personal story will be a helpful part of your brand, I can work with you to re-write the post so it will appear as unique content on your own website. All I ask in exchange is that you provide a link to my site somewhere on the post (a simple “thanks to Alaura at WordWeaver Freelance for copywriting/editing help” at the end will suffice).

Images

  • WordWeaver Freelance welcomes images and/or video to accompany guest blog posts. WordWeaver Freelance prefers that images you provide are directly relevant to the post content.
  •  If you’re including pictures of people, please make sure you have their permission to use them.
  •   If you’re borrowing an image I require proper attribution to the creator of the image.
  • Maximum image size: 8MB

Links

  • I’m pleased to give you credit as the author of your post.  I allow 1 link in your byline which will be displayed at the bottom of the page below your guest blog post. This may not be an affiliate link or point to an affiliate site.
  •  I don’t allow links to your site within the post content unless it is directly related to the topic. That said, I’ll write an intro to each post and will include a link to your site if appropriate.
  • You may include SEO’d anchor tags to sites that are relevant to your post.
  • Excessive links or any links that appear spammy will be removed.

Editing

  •  I reserve the right to make edits to the piece where necessary to ensure the blog stays congruous with my values.  Prior to publication of your guest blog post  I’ll make sure you agree with these changes.
  • If a guest post is inappropriate or needs improvement I’ll let you know and offer suggestions so that I can publish it in the future.

Extras

  •   WordWeaver Freelance reserves the right to refuse publication, remove blog content and change these guidelines as I see fit.

How to submit:

Please follow the pitching guidelines below and e-mail your pitch attached to a signed agreement form (download and sign here) to alaura.weaver@gmail.com. Due to the volume of correspondence, please give me 5-7 days to get back to you.

A note about pitching:

I don’t need to see a first draft until I let you know I want to see more. Please keep your pitch to under 500 words, and have an outline format including:

·         An introductory paragraph that acts a writing sample for your voice and an overview of your story idea.  

·         subheadings and bullet points to summarize the content of each subheading.

·         A short (100 word) bio written in third-person with a link to your website/blog.

If you have a pitch for me but lack the writing skills or the time to compose an entire blog post, I’ll be happy to act as your copywriter. Just let me know how I can help.